Following is an outline of agricultural cooperative development in Washington State. This information was gleaned from WSCFC records and other cooperative-related material stored in the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Archives maintained at Washington State University. We encourage readers to offer additions or corrections to this timeline; information may be sent to WSCFC, 625 Delphi Road NW, Olympia, WA 98502 or e-mailed to: wscfc@wscfc.org.

MILESTONES

1898Skamakawa Farmers Creamery Association, the state’s first cooperative, was formed to assist Southwest Washington dairy farmers in marketing their milk.

1902Puyallup and Sumner Fruit Growers Association was formed to can and sell members’ produce.

1903Yakima County Horticultural Union, the state’s first tree fruit marketing cooperative, was formed.

1917Washington Cooperative Farmers Association, which later became Western Farmers Association, was organized to provide egg and poultry marketing services and farm supplies to its members.

1920
The state’s first grain cooperative, Washington Wheat Growers Association, was formed under the patronage of Farmers Union.

1920
RCW 24.32, the state’s first Agricultural Marketing Act, passed the Legislature and became law.

1922
The federal Capper-Volstead Act, which gave farmers the ability to organize and set commodity prices without transgressing federal anti-trust laws.

1925
The Spokane Flower Growers Association organized and began offering marketing services to its members.

1931Washington State Agricultural Council, the state’s first association of cooperatives, was organized.

1936Washington State Cooperative Council, WSCFC’s predecessor organization, organized. It was housed at the Western Washington Experiment Station at Puyallup. Founding members, which are still active or have successor organizations, include:

Pacific Supply Cooperative, Western Farmers Association, Grange Cooperative Wholesale, which have become part of Cenex.

1936
More than 70 purchasing (farm supply) cooperatives had formed, most of which were affiiliated with Grange Supply Wholesale.

1945
Washington State Cooperative Council opened an office and changed its name to Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives (WSCFC), to mirror the name of the National Council of Farmer cooperatives.